Dean Lake

Dean Lake, 93, of Oshkosh passed away early Tuesday morning, December 5, 2023 in Scottsbluff.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 8, 2023 at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Oshkosh with Father Michael McDonald and Deacon Dixon Powers officiating. Interment will be held at Antelope Valley Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

The funeral service will be streamed live via the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals) and available to watch after the service.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Lake family.

Memorials in Dean’s name can be made to the family for later designation.

Dean Robert Lake was born April 8, 1930 in Oshkosh to Irene Roberta (Pebley) and Harold Robert Lake, the oldest of three children.  He was a proud older brother to Betty and Dallas.  A younger brother, Martin, died in infancy.

Dean attended Antelope Valley School and the Hutchinson School north of Oshkosh and graduated from Garden County High School in 1947.  As a boy, he loved to hunt and explore with his cousin Charlie Lake, his brother Dallas and many friends.  He was always a favorite among his classmates and he kept in touch with all of them as often as he could. 

Dean married Delores Krajewski in 1950 and they enjoyed over 72 years together on the farm before both moving to the Garden County Nursing Home in December of 2022.  They farmed together, raised children together, attended church together, and fished together.  They were always together and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

 Dean and Delores at first rented land from his grandparents, Jules and Marie Lake then bought the farm/ranch where they lived.  During his lifetime, he raised cattle, hogs, corn, wheat, alfalfa, millet, oats, cane, and harvested prairie hay.  Like all great farmers, he kept very busy.

Dean was involved in many organizations including St. Elizabeth Parish Council, NRD Board, FSA Board, Hutchinson School Board, and wore out three cars traveling to National Farmer’s Organization meetings.

Dean was preceded in death by his brother, Martin, his parents, his wife, Delores, his sister Betty and husband Virgil Ring, his in laws, Fritz Kraski, Rita Kraski Schmidt, Alvin Krajewski, Rich and Mary Lou Krajewski, Budd and Lorene Leeper and many close friends and family.

Dean is survived by his four children: Ron (Betsy) Lake of Palisades, Washington, Patricia (Allen) Peters of Minatare, John (Elaine) Lake of Oshkosh, and Debra (Bruce) Conklin of Scottsbluff; Five granddaughters: Lisa Lake of Bothell, Washington, Kathy Peters of Scottsbluff, Shelley (Trevor} Votruba of Gretna, Jenna (Randy) Ross of Lewellen, and Celean (Zach} Eckert of Hastings. He is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren: Austin, Aubrey, and Autumn Votruba, Brynlee, Bryson and Bryleigh Ross, and Weston Eckert.